Traditionally Germany was also an anti-Semitic and therefore furthered the increase of the persecution of the Jews as the church of Germany was obviously anti Semitic and therefore increased the persecution of the Jews.
Anti - Semitic measures were introduced across Germany but they were not of the extreme measures that were to be implemented later. All these measures that were introduced were introduced in order to discriminate and disgrace Jews as a race. Such measures included the Boycott in April 1933, and the pressure on Germans to exclude Jews from clubs and professional links these measures separated Jews who were viewed as a contaminated race away from the Arian Germans.
Further measures were introduced to separate Jews from Germans and one of the most notable was the Nuremberg laws that were introduced in September 1935. The main point of these laws included.
- The Reich citizenship law that deprived Jews of German citizenship and of their political rights.
- Marriage and sexual relations were also disallowed between Jews and Germans due to the protection of German blood and honour.
- Legal separation of Jews from other Germans.
Further discrimination continued of the Jews during 1936 - 39. Harassment of Jews continued at a low level and decrees were being passed which further harassed Jews. Jewish veterans of ww1 were dismissed as well as Jewish doctors banned from treating Aryan patients in September 1938.
After German Politician Ernst von Rath was killed by a Jew, ‘Kristallnacht’ was implemented by Goebbels in order to persecute Jews. Goebbels used the murder to attack Jews in a way that had never been seen before. Around 100 Jews had been murdered with around 26 000 being sent to concentration camps. 7000 Jewish businesses were destroyed and almost every synagogue in Germany was destroyed in a vicious attack by the Nazi regime on the Jewish race. Kristallnacht ‘crystal night’ was named so because of the glass that was strewn across German Towns and cities. This happened in November 1938.
Aftermath of Kristallnacht:
- Jews were excluded from German economic life in 12 November 1938
- All Jewish pupils were expelled from schools 15 November 1938
- Jewish businesses were closed 3 December 1938.
The persecution of Jews was developed in many stages but had two main turning points. These two different actions that were taken by the Nazi regime in order to further prosecute Jews were the two greatest steps that were taken during the period of 1933 - 1938. The first of these two steps was the Nuremburg laws that were introduced on the 15th of September 1935.
The Nuremburg laws that were introduced restricted the Jews in many different ways. By installing the Nuremburg laws the Nazi’s were able to keep a distinction between Jews and Germans which proved to be a very important factor. By doing this Jews had been deprived of German citizenship and their political rights.
The other main step in the persecution of the Jews was Kristallnacht. The level of violence had increased rapidly from previous harassment which included public embarrassment but now Jews were beginning to be sent to concentration camps which was a step up in the level of the persecution of the Jews. The Government involvement was now also in the open. There was no longer any holding back on the Jews and this led to many vicious attacks upon businesses and synagogues alike in November 1938. Jews could no longer tolerate the way they were being treated and some of the Jews had chosen to leave Germany for safer neighbouring countries yet many Jews stayed behind and were persecuted beyond humane levels. The marking out of Jews was also starting to occur. Jews were made to wear the star of David and had their passports stamped in order to signify that they were of Jewish origin. In order to get married, couples had to bring proof of heritage in order to signify that they had no Jewish heritage. This was the marking out of the Jews which is also known as ‘Ghettonisation.’